Theresa May hails ‘new generation of gifted ministers’ as she promotes rising stars in reshuffle

THERESA MAY tonight hailed a 'new generation of rising stars' as she gave key jobs to a string of promising MPs who first joined the Commons in 2015.

The PM's new ministers include a former director of auction house Christie's, a high-flying QC, the founder of polling firm YouGov, aides of David Cameron and Boris Johnson, and the son-in-law of a tech billionaire.

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This morning the new Cabinet line-up met in Downing Street for the first timeCredit: AFP or licensors

She also gave promotions to rising stars including Boris' brother, a former banker raised in Ghana and the first openly lesbian Tory MP.

Speaking when the reshuffle was finished this evening, Mrs May said: “This Government is about building a country fit for the future – one that truly works for everyone with a stronger economy and a fairer society.

“This reshuffle helps us do just that by bringing fresh talent into Government, boosting delivery in key policy areas like housing, health and social care, and ensuring the Government looks more like the country it serves.

“It also allows a new generation of gifted ministers to step up and make life better for people across the whole UK.”

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The Prime Minister at the first meeting of the new CabinetCredit: AFP or licensors

Day two of the reshuffle started shortly after this morning’s first meeting of the new Cabinet line-up.

It began with four older male ministers being eased out in a sign of the PM’s mission to freshen up the Government.

John Hayes, Philip Dunne, and Robert Goodwill - who all served in the Government continuously from 2010 - were also removed from their posts.

There were promotions for Dominic Raab, who will take the crucial post of housing minister, Alok Sharma, the new employment minister, and Boris Johnson's brother Jo, who becomes a transport minister and the minister for London.

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Caroline Dinenage was promoted to become a health ministerCredit: PA:Press Association

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Rory Stewart is now a justice minister after the reshuffleCredit: PA:Press Association

Mr Johnson was replaced as universities minister by Sam Gyimah, who was brought up partly in Ghana and worked for Goldman Sachs before entering politics.

Rory Stewart, who walked across Afghanistan after leaving the Army and later governed a province of Iraq, was made a justice minister, moving from the Foreign Office.

Among the female MPs to land a promotion today were Margot James - who was the Tories' first openly lesbian MP when she was elected in 2010 - Caroline Dinenage and Harriett Baldwin.

Mr Raab, a keen Brexiteer tipped as a possible future leader, said today: "I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the housing brief, vital to building the new homes we need."

Jo Johnson tweeted: "Farewell unis and science - our greatest national asset and best thing about this country. It's been an honour to have had this role."

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Sam Gyimah will take over as universities ministerCredit: �2018 Under licence to London News Pictures Ltd. +44 208 088 1155 press@londonnewspictur

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Boris Johnson's brother Jo is a transport minister as well as minister for LondonCredit: PA:Press Association

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Mrs May at Number 10 with female MPs who were made assistant whips today

Several Tories from the 2015 intake were asked to become ministers for the first time as Mrs May showed she has listened to pleas for her to give fresh talents the chance to prove themselves.

Rishi Sunak, who is married to the daughter of Indian tech billionaire Narayana Murthy, was made a junior minister in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Barrister Lucy Frazer became a justice minister while Kit Malthouse, former deputy mayor of London, was made a work and pensions minister.

Other MPs to be plucked from the back benches include Nadhim Zahawi, who founded pollster YouGov, Robert Jenrick, a former director of Christie's, and David Cameron's ex-chief of staff Oliver Dowden.

And in a bid to shore up support among Eurosceptic MPs, arch-Brexiteer Suella Fernandes was appointed a junior minister in David Davis' department.

Six female MPs were appointed to the Whips' Office, which will be crucial in pushing through the Government's Brexit agenda over the coming months.

Of those promoted or appointed for the first time today, 11 are women and seven are from an ethnic minority.

Brandon Lewis was made Tory chairman by Theresa May yesterdayCredit: AP:Associated Press

Asked about yesterday’s shambolic goings-on, with the Cabinet reshuffle lasting until 9pm as Jeremy Hunt and Justine Greening turned down new posts, Mr Lewis replied: “I’m not going to get into ‘apparentlys’ and discuss what may or may not have happened.”

But he hit back against claims the reshuffle will make no difference because the most senior ministers such as Philip Hammond and Boris Johnson have stayed in position.

Mr Lewis said: “All reshuffles have changes of personalities and roles and what we’ve seen yesterday is a real influx of new talent.”

Writing in the Evening Standard newspaper which he now edits, Mrs May's nemesis George Osborne slammed it as "the worst reshuffle in modern history".

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Jeremy Hunt pictured arriving for a Cabinet meeting today - a day after he refused to move jobsCredit: PA:Press Association

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Matt Hancock is one of the new Cabinet ministers appointed yesterdayCredit: PA:Press Association

Beefed-up code of conduct for ministers

THERESA MAY is set to publish a beefed up code of conduct for ministers to try and crack down on sexual harassment and secret meetings.

The Prime Minister’s move comes in light of the departure of Michael Fallon and Damian Green over claims of sexual misconduct, writes Alain Tolhurst.

And Priti Patel was also sacked over her failure to report meetings with businessmen and politicians on a visit to Israel late last year.

The PM's spokesman said: "There are a number of changes but it will include new wording to ensure the code properly covers inappropriate bullying or harassing behaviour.

“There's also new wording to specifically address the requirements on ministers to report official meetings domestically and especially overseas."

The spokesman also confirmed Mrs May has ordered all Cabinet ministers to confirm at a later date that they and their ministerial teams had read the updated code of conduct.

And veteran MP Nicholas Soames, who yesterday asked "Is that it?" after the Cabinet shake-up, also expressed disappointment at the moves made by junior ministers.

He said he was "really very disappointed" to see Mr Dunne leave the Government, and responded to Mr Stewart's move away from the Foreign Office by tweeting, "Oh God".

Matt Hancock, Damian Hinds and Esther McVey joined the Cabinet for the first time, with junior ministers Claire Perry and Caroline Nokes granted the right to attend meetings of the top team.

David Lidington took over from sacked Damian Green as the PM's de facto deputy - but he will hold the title of Cabinet Office minister and will not be First Secretary of State.

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Karen Bradley is the new Northern Ireland Secretary after James Brokenshire quitCredit: AFP or licensors

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Justine Greening went out for a run this morning after quitting the CabinetCredit: London News Pictures